Self-filling tire.



A. B. WETHERELL.

SELF FILLING TIRE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. I3. I9I2.

Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

IVVENTOR.

ff/ m72# TORNE/ WITNESSES JM@ my XM 1HE MORRIS PETERS C0.. FHOTc-LITHQ.WASHINGTON. D. C.

A. B. WETHERELL.

SELF FILLING TIRE.

Amlcmon man rta. la. m2.

1,134,361. Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

2 BEBET-BHEET 2.

ANSON B. WETHERELL, OF PITTSURG-H, PENNSYLVANIA.

SELF-FILLING TIRE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

Appiieauon inea February 13, 1912'. serial Nol 677,394.

T all whom it may concern VBe it lrnown that 1, Anson B. WETHERELL, acitizen of the United `States, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county ofAllegheny and 1tate of Pennsylvania, have' invented certain new anduseful mprovements in Self- Filling Tires, of which the following is aspecification. |lhis invention relates to self-filling tires forautomobiles, bicycles, and similar vehicles employing pneumatictires,'and ithas for its primary objects; the provision .of an improvedapparatus for lling the tire as the wheel rotates; and the provision ina device of the character specified, of an improved valve mechanism forautomatically maintaining the pressure at a predetermined amount. rlhesetogether with such other objects as may hereinafter appear, or areincidental to the invention, are attained by means of a constructionillustrated in preferred form in the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig.1 is a transverse section through an automobile tire embodying myinvention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal `section on the line 11-11 of Fig.1; Fig. 3 is a section through the safety valve mechanism employed; Fig.4 isa longitudinal section through the compressor element of the tire;Fig. 5 is a similar section through the compressionelementof the tire;Fig. is a section on the line Vl--Vl of Fig. 4; Fig. 7 is a section onthev line VIL-VII of Fig. 5; and Fig. 8 is a plan view of Fig. 7.

While my invention may be used on various types of pneumatic tires, 1have shown it in the drawings as applied to an automobile tire, theparts being drawn out of proportion for the purpose of clearness.Referring to Fig. 1, I have shown a rim 7 provided with flanges 8adapted to grip the flanges 9 formed on the carcass 10 of the shoe.Mounted within the carcass is the usual inner tube 11. vulcanized on thecarcass is an annular band or strip 12 of rubber provided with a channelor groove 13, which extends circumferentially around the strip and hasits ends overlapping as indicated in Fig. 2. A sheet 14, preferablycomposed of a fine quality of rubber, is laid over the strip 12 andvulcanized thereto. This sheet covers the channel 13. Mountedimmediately above the channel 18 and sheet 14 is a compressor member 15which is preferably composed of layers of fabric, such for example astape. The outer top strip 16 of the tape extends on either side of thecompressor member 15 and is held in position by means of rubber walls17, which are 'vulcanized in position over such strip, the annular strip12 and the carcass an inspection of Fig. 1. 1t will be observed that theedges of the compressor member 15 Ydo not quite abut the outer strip 16and walls 17, the purpose of which will hereinafter appear. The tire iscovered and protected by the usual tread member 18, which in this case,however, is provided with an annular ridge portion 19. From aninspection of Figures 4L and 5 it will beV seen that the strip 12 whichis provided with the channel 13 has its outside edge formed somewhat inthe nature of a spiral to make provision for the overlapping Vends ofthe channel. The inner portion of the strip 12 is circular 10, as isclearly seen from g in form. The inside edge of the compressor .f

member is formed to fit the compression member or strip 12, and theouter edge is of circular form, the purpose of which is to provide aneven tread on lthe compression member as thev wheel rotates.

. From an inspection of Fig. 2 it will be fr seen that the inner end 13of the channel 13 opens into a check valve 2O secured to the inner tube11. The outer end of the channel 13 is connected to an intake pipe 21which is preferably fastened to the hub of tine wheel, asdiagrammatically indicated in The operation of the device is as follows,assuming that the wheel is turning in the direction indicated by thearrow in Fig. 5. lVhen the outer end of the channel is adj acent theground the weight of the vehicle compresses the ridge 19 and forces thecompressor member 15 inwardly, which in turn moves the strip 1li intothe channel 13 and thereby closes the end of the channel fromcommunication with the intake pipe 21. As the wheel rotates the airconfined within the channel is driven or forced around until it reachesthe end 13, at which time the wheel has made a complete revolution andthe outer end of the channel is again adjacent the ground. Thearrangement of overlapping ends prevents the escape of any air that hasbeen kconfined within the channel and continually adds a fresh supplytaken in by the channel as the wheel rotates. When the air containedwithin the channel is compressed suiiciently it will force its valve 22,which comprises `thesleeve or stem the check valve the 23 providedwith'y afcollar 24, whichV is adapted, in conjunction-.with the nut v25p to serve as ameans-V for securingvthe sleeve to the inner vtube 11.

Threaded on the end ofthe sleeve is a bushthreaded on, the "sleeve,

- ing-'26 which is embedded in the fellyv 27 lof the wheel. of. thevVehicle., -Sli'dably mounted inthebushing .is a piston 28 which ismaintained in position in the bushing by the flat spring 29 secured tothe'inner-edge.

of the felly.V The with a reduced ofthe sleeve 23 vand having a grooveor slot 3l, and with a countersunk portion 32 to provide a seat for. theend of the sleeve whiehisbeveled at 33 to form a-knife edge contactbetween the sleeve and seat. When the pressure within: the inner tube issuticient to. overcome the 'resistance of the spring 29, the piston 28is 'forced outwardly and the groove Blyis uncovered and-the air 30escapes; to the i atmosphere kthrough the groove 34 cut into the side ofthe piston. The form of valve employed is such as to insure a tightclosure preventing the escape f of the air confined within thev innertube when the vehicle is not in use. 1 z i The compressor member l5isfastened'at the top and hasa comparatively ,loose fit with the rubberwalls 17, so that it will be free to move inwardly when thel ridge 19 isCompressed as thev wheel rotates. 'Ihe propiston 28 is provided Copiesof this patent may be Vobtained for vecents each, by addre i Washington,D. C.

prevent the 'pressure.withinV amount being added thereto wit providedasafety sure is generated to open the check valve 2 portion 30 tting theinside tube t mounted therein,

of the said channel .extending vision of the overlapping ends of thechannel 13 is advantageous in that anyair-that is in the channel cannotescape and rwill be driven `around to the endV I3", a small v n Y'ea-chrevo;v lution` of the wheel, untila suflicientipre` against thepressurewithin theinnertube;` Having Vthus described my invention .andillustrated itsiuse, Vwhat I claimas new `an desireto secureby'fLetters..Patent,` is the* following;` f j l. Afself inflating tire comprisingin co'mf bination'an outer casing, an innertube, and; a channel which'isopen tothe atmosphere adjacent one vendend to theinner tube .ad i jacentvtheiotlier end adapted tocoinp'res A air tov inate the inner tube astheti're'is" rotated,vsai'd channel being tapered toward- .l the endlcommunicating with Vthe inner tube' 2. In a self filling tire, thecombinationj.-`u with an outerv eompressible casing, aninner;

'A a-circumferentia'lr .7. pumping channeljlying'rinthe outer'casingl'-and surrounding the inner casing, the ends f past f eacha. other andeach'lying outside the inner tube and exposed to the compressive Vactionof the outer tube, andone ofsaid ends communi.- eating with theatmosphere in advanceotj the other lend which communicates withy the; innertube. 'Y 1 j In testimonyr .whereof I have hereunto signed my name inthepresence of the twov subscribed witnesses. l Y Y ANSON B; WETHERELL..Witnessesz- HANEYL. LEortNER, y AnCHw'oRTH MARTIN.

ssh'lg the ucqnimvssioner of Patents, g i

